first dance

Sure, different songs mean different things to different people. But when the lyrics are blatantly about liking big butts or two-timing your man, one has to wonder, how in the world did you choose that? We asked a few wedding insiders to dish the dirt on the strangest first dance song choices they've ever heard. My 💛 Photo by @elizabethmessina A photo posted by Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad) on Feb 2, 2014 at 9:41pm PST "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 "There was a time that I saw Maroon 5's 'She Will Be Loved' as a very popular first dance song," a wedding planner explains. "Of course, the music video features two couples: one in an abusive relationship and one where the boyfriend obsesses over the girlfriend's mother. Given that context, it's a very odd choice for a couple just starting out their married lives together!" "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles "A couple years ago I filled in for a planner at a wedding, and I swear the entire room danced in a circle and sang 'Lyin' Eyes' by the Eagles," another planner explains. "The song is about adultery. I asked why this song was so important to sing read more

Quite possibly the best opportunity to show off your personality as a couple is with a killer first dance. But with so many other decisions at hand—floral arrangements, what type of meal you'll serve, heck, even picking out your escort cards—finding the right song and the right moves can make choosing "At Last" and winging it when the time comes seem more and more appealing. Whether or not you want to re-create the famous scene from Dirty Dancing, here are three simple ways to make your first dance unique, special, and, most important, fun. Do It With Feeling It's a romantic moment, but you don't have to pick a classically romantic song, says Daisy O'Dell, a Los Angeles-based DJ. "Choose something that has meaning to you, even if it's the Charlie Brown theme," recommends O'Dell. "My first dance was 'If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out,' by Cat Stevens. It's from one of our favorite films, Harold and Maude, so it felt special." Choreograph It Doing the Dancing With the Stars thing can be a great bonding experience. "Just keep it brief and fun, and don't get in over your heads," says New York event planner Desiree Spinner. read more

Oh, the first dance. It's a tried-and-true tradition (even though you obviously don't have to do it if you don't want to!), and there can be as much pressure to pick the first song as there is to, you know, actually dance. So if you're trying to find that perfect song, Michael Taylor—who heads Star Talent in New York City (its bands have played for lots of big-name star weddings, including Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones)—has some some important tips to consider. "Instead of looking through lists of songs, take a step back and think about the type of song you wish to dance to in front of all those guests," he says. "Do you want it to be romantic or fun? Contemporary or sentimental?" After that, you can start narrowing it down. Here are some of his favorites—categorized! Romance, romance "If you want to get caught in the moment as you gaze into each other's eyes and tune out those 200 guests around you, choose something romantic," he says. His suggestions: "When a Man Loves a Woman," by Percey Sledge "Stay Together," by Al Green "Let's Get Lost," by Chet Baker "Here and Now," by Luther Vandross "Get Here," read more

Like a great movie, every wedding needs a killer soundtrack. The right one will dial up the emotion, energize the room, and keep your friends--and grandparents--on the dance floor all night long. The first piece: Your first dance. Here's your key to picking the music that'll open up the night on the perfectly memorable note. read more

Hi Guys! I’m Rebecca, an editor—and bride-to-be--here at Glamour. (My wedding is February 26, 2011!) I'll be blogging all about getting ready for the Big Day, but my latest task is choosing our wedding music, specifically our first dance song. I find myself constantly observing how people react to music--on their own iPods, in shops, at concerts, in cars and everywhere else. Music has so much to do with personal taste and phases of life. So I took a trip down memory lane where music played a part of my life, both good and bad, and here are some highlights: read more